An anonymous music producer has sued Kanye West over allegedly unpaid AI-based work they completed for “Vultures 2” and other unreleased projects.
Identified as “John Doe,” the producer alleged that they were not compensated after working under a tight deadline.
Music Producer Alleges Kanye West Never Paid Him for AI Voice Modeling and Production Work on “Vultures 2”
As reported by TMZ, the producer was brought on just two days before the album’s release. They claimed that West personally directed the sessions. The plaintiff also alleged that they produced 400 vocal generations and created at least 13 custom AI voice models to transform performances into modeled versions of other artists’ voices. They were reportedly instructed to use West’s recordings as source material for some of the finished masters.
Doe also claimed that their work contributed to five “Vultures 2” tracks. They later worked on unreleased songs from Ye’s “Bully” project and several other unreleased tracks. According to the lawsuit, West’s team acknowledged Doe’s work and discussed updating their credits on digital streaming platforms. The team also allegedly offered them a master buyout.
Doe claimed that none of these promises came to fruition, even after they contacted West’s business managers, including Milo Yiannopoulos. They are seeking at least $110,000 for seven released tracks. This reportedly includes $80,000 for “Vultures 2” and $30,000 for “Bully,” along with additional damages related to their unreleased work.
The lawsuit is one of several legal disputes involving West. The musician, who legally changed his name to Ye, has faced allegations from several former employees.
These include claims of unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions and discrimination involving Yeezy and Donda Academy. Last month, Ye reached an undisclosed settlement with his former assistant Lauren Pisciotta. She had accused him of sexual harassment and other misconduct. Ye denied the allegations.
Kanye West is a Grammy-winning rapper, producer and fashion entrepreneur widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in modern hip-hop.
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